EasyGuide to the State of California’s San Mateo County Superior Court

What is the San Mateo County Superior Court?

The San Mateo County Superior Court is a Superior County Court in the State of California, which exists within the realm of Common Law. A Superior Court is permitted to hear cases both criminal and civil in nature. This is in contrast to a court classified as ‘lower’, which is restricted to the judicial review of cases considered to be less severe in nature. Although this qualification differs with regard to the nature of the crime, matters considered to be of the utmost seriousness within San Mateo County, California will typically be heard before the San Mateo County Superior Court.

The San Mateo County Superior Court currently is comprised of 5 locations, which are determined in accordance to the specific hearing. The main courthouse is located in

San Mateo County, California:

400 County Center
Redwood City, California 94063
(650) 363-4805

San Mateo County Superior Court Jurisdiction

The following cities, municipalities, and towns in the State of California are under the jurisdiction of the San Mateo County Superior Court. However, the San Mateo County Country Court System is apportioned into 5 locations with regard to the respective legal services provided. Each of the courthouses within the San Mateo County Superior Court

Systems are responsible for a variety of legal services:


Atherton

Belmont

Brisbane

Burlingame

Colma

Daly City

East Palo Alto

Foster City

Half Moon Bay

Hillsborough

Menlo Park

Millbrae

Pacifica

Portola Valley

Redwood City

San Bruno

San Carlos

San Mateo

South San Francisco

Woodside

San Mateo County Superior Court Judges and Personnel

In the San Mateo County Superior Court, the following Judges and personnel are responsible for legal review of legal matters:

Beth Labson Freeman: Presiding Judge

Robert D. Folies: Assistant Presiding Judge.

Legal Issues Managed at the San Mateo County Superior Court

The following legal issues, statutory legislation, and proceedings are heard in the San Mateo County Superior Court:

Family Law: Judicial review within this legal field in the San Mateo County Superior Court undertakes legal matters addressing matters of the family and familial, structural procedures including:

Adoption

The Establishment of Paternity and Guardianship

Domestic Violence and the Mandating of Restraining Orders

Divorce, Legal Separation, and Annulment

The Establishment of Visitation

Domestic Partnerships

Dispute Resolution and Mediation: Measures of alternative forms of conflict resolution, including Mediation, are defined as legal procedures undertaken in lieu of arbitration through court hearings.

Small Claims Court: The San Mateo County Superior Court provides a legal venue existing under the jurisdiction of Civil Law with which legal matters involving smaller sums of money, damages, and torts occurring within San Mateo County may be heard.

Small Claims Court in San Mateo County will only undertake matters not exceeding $7,500 in valuation. Individuals are prohibited from filing for an excess of 2 Small Claims hearings exceeding $2,500 each on an annual basis. Small Claims Court hearings must take place within 180 days of the matter being heard.

Probate Court: A legal venue in which the appropriation of the estate belonging to a deceased individual takes place. This includes the judicial review of the following:

Wills and Testaments

Conservatorships

Single Party Inheritance

Descendent Guardianship

Juvenile and Minor Law: This legal field undertakes hearings involving children and individuals not considered to be legal adults, which may include the following:

Child Support

Violations Committed by Individuals Considered to be ‘Underage’

Juvenile Crime

Juvenile Dependency

Grand Jury: A legal procedure in which a jury will be undertaken in order to facilitate the determination with regard to the existence of a sufficient amount of evidence required for a fair hearing. Jury duty is also required of any and all residents of San Mateo County.

Traffic and Accident Law: Vehicular and transportation matters requiring legal administration and regulation may be heard at the San Mateo County Superior Court. These matters will range in the requirement for a court appearance in lieu of the submission of required fees. This may include:

Required Fines and Fees

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

The Mandating of Citations

Punitive Recourse with regard to the Associated Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

Criminal Law: The San Mateo County Superior Court will address matters in both civil jurisdictions, as well as those occurring within criminal jurisdictions. Criminal cases are considered to be affronts in the form of crime with regard to the general public within the public sector, which may include:

Drug Treatment, if the individual is eligible.

The ‘Bridges’ Program: An outpatient drug counseling program sponsored by Sam Mateo County.

Probation and Expungement

Civil Law in the San Mateo County Superior Court

With regard to legal matters involving a resident of San Mateo County Country, the following classifications of respective circumstances are applicable to Civil Law Cases:

Unlimited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is equal to or exceeds $25,000. These cases will require additional fees of $395 in order to be heard.

Limited Civil Jurisdictions entail hearings in which the valuation of monies, assets, or properties is less than $25,000.

Complex Civil Litigation

San Mateo County Superior Court Administration and Fees

The San Mateo County Superior Court provides individuals the opportunity to not only access court documentation, but also satisfy the payment of fees online. The following details are pertinent with regard to both scheduling of fee payment, as well the procedural structuring of legal fees:

Fee structures, schedules, and payments are available both in virtual and physical formats.

Court forms and applicable documentation are provided in both online, as well as in hard copy form.

The Administration of Jury Duty

Records Management.